The Alpha Choice (65 page)

Michael Conway had pondered this for a moment. It made some sense and as he could see no valid reason for Hugo resisting the agreement, he consented. That night, for the first time in weeks, he enjoyed an unbroken night’s sleep.

Δ

Now, standing in the signing room with Gerry, while the faces of the rest of the Cadre looked out at him, his worst fears were being realised. He picked up the strange little object the battered man had brought in, and turned it over in his hands, it was as lifeless as the table it sat on. Did he go ahead with the signing, or throw it all over for the promises of someone he had never met, and a man who had lost all sense of reason?
 

Yet, Hugo had always been there when it mattered.

The decision was not his alone, but in reality he knew the others would defer to the man on the spot, after all Hugo Black was
his
friend.

He turned to the screens and took a deep breath, wondering whether he would sleep tonight?

Δ
 

Gerry Wye wondered what was going on in the mind of Michael Conway. He had seen the look on the face of the
woman
, and while she scared him - anyone he could not read, frightened him - he had good reason to be grateful to her. He remembered the first time he spoke to her, and the feeling of trepidation - an emotion totally alien to him - when he suggested the two of them meet. She agreed, on condition the meeting was away from TeCorp headquarters, and no one else was present. He suggested the White House.

Later that day, they met. With no idea how Tala would react, he wondered how to broach the question of Black, but he had no need to worry because she raised the issue. ‘I have concerns regarding a mutual friend who might be losing his focus, perhaps even more than that!’
 

Feigning surprise, he probed as far as he dared. ‘I’m not sure I know what you mean, Tala?’

‘I’m concerned that Hugo might try to retain his hold on the technology we have provided. As an honourable people, we simply used TeCorp as a device to establish the technology without causing alarm. We never meant for it to be for the benefit of one man, it was to be a gift to all the people of Earth.’

When reporting back to the President, he was able to confirm that Tala had agreed to have one of her people make direct, daily reports to the Chief of Staff, no one else would know. As for their
friend
, Hugo Black, it had been agreed he was a prime mover in all that had happened, and all that was to happen, but it was also agreed it would do no harm to keep an eye on anything suggesting a change in his mental wellbeing, after all, they owed him that much!
 

That meeting with Tala was to be the first of several, but even now he still could not read her. He was just glad she was on their side.

Ω

Tala looked across to the injured Tellurian, and worried. She had no way of communicating with Beron - the implant would be too slow.
How did Hugo get out of the chamber? What’s happened to Corcoran and the other female?
With no answers, her mind went back to when she assured Garnoth her plan would work…

The Agency head was looking out at her from the holo image. ‘On Telluria, everything proceeds as planned?’

‘Mostly…’

‘Explain?’ Garnoth’s look became stony.

‘I was loathe to raise this with you as there is no direct evidence, yet I have certain suspicions. In particular, I don’t think Black’s assistant trusts us.’

‘Has Mr. Black’s behaviour altered?

‘No, but other than a functional role in the asteroid event, he was left very much on the sidelines, and he may lay the cause at our door.’

‘You are right to be cautious. If she is suspicious, we cannot be sure of him. Even if she has merely communicated her thoughts to him, he is contaminated. We must fear the worst.’

I agree,’ Tala replied. ‘The merest suggestion that he’s beginning to question our policies, if only in a small way, should be enough to precipitate preventative measures.’

‘Which you have already formulated?’

She bowed her head. ‘Only with your leave, Garnoth.’

‘Proceed.’

‘We can’t take the risk of allowing him to remain a person of influence. We merely need to lay the groundwork to discredit him, and leave the rest to the Tellurians.’

‘And how do you propose we achieve that?’

‘I’ll call a meeting with the cadre
,
and at that meeting draw attention to Black, by suggesting that we favour him. For optimal effect, this should take place as soon as possible. It will cause them to feel the prickle of resentment. Their spokesman, President Conway will have his advisor seek a meeting with me, to better understand what is going on. That will be my second meeting. I’ll initially refuse his overtures, not wanting to seem too eager,’ Garnoth nodded, ‘but eventually I’ll accede to his request, and during our conversation raise some reservations concerning Black.’
 

‘You are certain this will neutralise Black?’

‘I am.’

Garnoth nodded his approval. ‘You will proceed immediately with your two meetings. Keep me appraised of all developments,’ and with that, the image of the Agency head was gone.

That last reassurance was now coming back to haunt her. Despite all she had done. The man and his artefact
had
got through to the cadre. Garnoth would wonder whether she had done enough to render Black ineffective.
Had Black known about this man, even then?
She began to question her actions.
Should I have sidestepped Wye, and dealt with the President directly
?
Was I too clever for my own good?

Her self recrimination was brought to a sudden halt as they were all called back into the room.

Δ

Following his new companion’s line of sight, Jon found Tala looking directly at him. Her face gave nothing away, and was all the more unnerving for that.

Hugo looked around the crowd, seconds later sighing. ‘He's not here.’

Jon scanned the corridor himself, but was unable to see what Hugo was driving at.

‘Gerry Wye,’ Hugo added, ‘he's still inside with the President.’

‘Why’s that a problem?’ asked Jon, bemused.

Hugo’s response was to indicate, with a sideways move of his head, that the two of them should move off to a point where they could not be overheard. Jon took the hint, and it was only when they were far enough away not to be heard, but not so far as to arouse suspicion, that they continued their discussion in lowered voices.

‘I don’t know, but given that she doesn’t look too concerned,’ Hugo looked over to the seraphic Tala, ‘and Wye isn't to be trusted, it tells me that he’s somehow bound up in what they’re doing.’

‘You forget, Hugo, he’s only one and there are another four in there, she can't have got to all of them.’

‘That possibility is too frightening to consider,’ Hugo replied, shaking his head. ‘Because the President is here on the spot, he has the most influence, and take it from one who knows, he’s very persuasive. If Gerry’s got to him, the President will ensure the rest will fall in line,’ he breathed out sharply through his nose and looked hard at Jon. ‘We've got to accept that we’re likely to fail, so what’s the backup plan the Custodians gave you?’

Jon stared blankly back.

After a pause that seemed to last longer than the three or so seconds it actually took, Hugo spoke. ‘So we’re on our own.’ Jon could almost hear the man think. ‘You're the only one who can use the Artefact, right?’
 

‘As far as I know yes, at least around here.’
 

Hugo wished that Liz was with him to sort through all the possible options, but that was a forlorn hope, and so came up with the only option available to them. ‘When we get back inside, make straight for the Artefact. Everyone will be too interested in hearing what the President has to say, to bother with you…’

‘What about his security people, won't they stop me?’ Jon interrupted.

‘We've already seen how the Artefact protects you. Provided you have it, I don’t think you’ll have a problem.’

‘You don’t
think
!’ Jon whispered.

‘Do you have a better plan?’

After the briefest of moments Jon answered. ‘No, but I've no idea what to do with it, once I have it.’

‘If - and it’s a big if - I'm right, the same defence mechanism will kick in as before.’ Hugo answered.

‘Go on.’

‘Once the agreement is signed, the Te will attack us. I think the Artefact will protect you and I'm hoping the rest of us will be caught in that umbrella…’ he looked at the doubtful face of Jon and added. ‘I know it’s not much, but it’s all we've got.’

A few more minutes elapsed before the doors opened, Gerry Wye stepped out of the room and whispered into the ear of the nearest Secret Service woman.

Soon afterwards, the crowd made its way back into the room.

Ω

The Tellurians were about to fail, and Gorn had run out of options. He was about to transmit the kill order to the Avatar, when all power on the bridge failed.
 

Darl was furious. ’What’s happened XO?’
 

Kirion, like Gorn, was completely at a loss to explain the outage. Darl was just about to speak when the power was restored, but before Gorn had an opportunity to proceed with his order, he received one of his own. ‘Gorn, find the cause of that malfunction and share your console with the XO so he can double check your findings.’

‘Yes, sir,’ Gorn replied. This effectively put paid to any chance he had of issuing the kill instruction to the Avatar. Kirion would be aware of anything beyond the norm,
why didn't I give it the autonomy to act if I was blocked?
Part of him was angry for being so shortsighted, a bigger part of him was relieved.

Δ

As Hugo and Jon got to the doors, two muscular Secret Service men appeared either side of them and gently, but firmly, moved the two off to one side. They were kept there until everyone had entered and taken up their previous positions, at which point they were escorted into the room and brought to a stop well short of the table and, more importantly, the Artefact.

Jon's heart sank. Their last ditch plan had just evaporated. The ancient device might as well have been back at Stonehenge.

Once the murmuring crowd had quietened to an expectant silence, the President spoke.

He addressed the crowd, but looked at Hugo. ‘I have conferred with my fellow leaders,’ as if to confirm this statement, each of the images gave a slight nod of the head. The spokesman for the cadre continued, with what Hugo took to be genuine sadness in his eyes. ‘I am sorry it has come to this. A trusted friend has sought to make capital out of this momentous event. We owe our lives to our new friends,’ at this point the President dropped the pretence of addressing all present, and spoke directly to Hugo. ‘You were the most powerful man on the planet, and would have remained so but,’ he glanced at Gerry Wye, before returning his attention to Hugo, ‘you weren’t content with that. Instead, you come to us with this,’ he gestured, towards the Artefact, ‘toy, and an unbelievable story to make us all afraid…afraid enough to swallow your fabrication. Well, you seriously underestimated us, as I underestimated you.’

Hugo looked at Gerry and wondered what he could have said to the President, to make him believe this nonsense. While there was a look of dark triumphalism in Gerry Wye’s face, there was no such overt expression in the face of Tala. She remained calm and without expression of any kind. He had been completely outmanoeuvred by Gerry and Tala, and was now expected to respond to the President, but how could he deny something he knew nothing about? He could only shake his head.
       

With no reply, or explanation forthcoming, the President stood up straight and turned to look at the clock behind the press corps before saying. ‘Ladies and gentlemen, I apologise for keeping you waiting. You came here to witness the execution of an agreement to record, possibly the most historic moment in our evolution, certainly the most promising. Not since our ancestors discovered fire, has there been such a leap forward for mankind. No doubt the writers of history will record that the signature was six minutes late,’ he smiled. ‘I hope it’s not all I’m remembered for.’

Nervous, sporadic laughter travelled around the room.
 

Not everyone was as comfortable with the signing as they were before the entrance of Hugo Black and Jonathon Tyler.
Why
,
more than a few wondered,
didn't the President put off the signing just for a day, to see if this Artefact is all Tyler has said it is? If the Te are our friends, they wouldn't object
.
 

Hugo had recovered from his bewilderment, and looked again at Wye and Tala. He now understood everything. The Te’an had it covered all along. She smiled at him, secure in the knowledge that she had won. Gerry Wye made no attempt to avoid his gaze. Indeed, his look portrayed his thoughts as surely as if he had voiced them.
 

At that moment Hugo realised he had underestimated Wye. He always knew the man held the deluded belief he was a patriot. In his twisted view of reality, the thought that one man, Hugo Black, could hold his nation to ransom was anathema to him. What did it matter if Hugo never gave him cause to think this? The power Hugo possessed, the power that frightened Wye, had gone. Hugo was no longer a threat, and that was all that mattered to the man whose actions were about to propel the human race into oblivion.
 

Hugo shook his head without knowing he did it. ‘You stupid, vain fool,’ he said quietly to Wye, knowing the man could not possibly hear him, ‘you have no idea what you've unleashed.’

Without any great fanfare to mark the moment, the two representatives, one of Earth and the other of Te’ath placed their hands on the electronic pad before them.

The signing was complete. Applause resounded through the room from all but Hugo, Jon and the Secret Service personnel. The three view screens showed genuinely happy premiers, each secure in the knowledge that the whole world, but more particularly their own nations, would benefit enormously from the alliance.